Engagement of Facilities Management in Design Stage through BIM: Framework and a Case Study

Ying Wang,Guo Jun,Jun Wang,Xiangyu Wang,Ping Yung

doi:10.1155/2013/189105

Abstract

Considering facilities management (FM) at the early design stage could potentially reduce the efforts for maintenance during the operational phase of facilities. Few efforts in construction industry have involved facility managers into the design phase. It was suggested that early adoption of facilities management will contribute to reducing the needs for major repairs and alternations that will otherwise occur at the operational phase. There should be an integrated data source providing information support for the building lifecycle. It is envisaged that Building Information Modelling (BIM) would fill the gap by acting as a visual model and a database throughout the building lifecycle. This paper develops a framework of how FM can be considered in design stage through BIM. Based on the framework, the paper explores how BIM will beneficially support FM in the design phase, such as space planning and energy analysis. A case study of using BIM to design facility managers’ travelling path in the maintenance process is presented. The results show that early adoption of FM in design stage with BIM can significantly reduce life cycle costs.

Highlights

According to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), facility management (FM) is defined as “a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, processes and technology” [1]
With the ease of access to lifecycle information of all the building components Building Information Modelling (BIM) provided, proposed building plan could be optimized and lifecycle cost could be reduced with the FM knowledge and experience
This study developed a framework of considering FM in design stage with BIM

Summary

Introduction

According to the International Facility Management Association (IFMA), facility management (FM) is defined as “a profession that encompasses multiple disciplines to ensure functionality of the built environment by integrating people, place, processes and technology” [1]. Industries in varieties of areas are adopting BIM for FM. There have been rare effective approaches or processes to engage FM in design stage. Building Information Modelling (BIM) is a conceptual approach to building design and construction that comprises all the graphic and linguistic data of building for design and detailing which facilitates exchange of building information between design, construction, and operational phase [6]. A BIM model could comprise individual 3D models of each building component with all associated properties such as weight, material, length, height, geographical information system GIS and information [7]. BIM includes external association between building components.

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